Erasing-shield for type-writers



(No Model.)

L. D. CRAIG.

ERASING SHIELD FOB. TYPE WRITERS. No. 394,342. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE I). CRAIG, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ERASlNG-SHIELD FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,342, dated December11, 1888.

Application filed April 24 1888. Serial No. 271,690. (No model.)

To CLZZ whom it may concern.-

Boit known that I, LEE 1). CRAIG, of San Francisco, in the county of SanFrancisco and State of alitornia, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Phasing-Shields 'lor 'ln)e-\\i.'ite1's; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same.

Every type-writer operator is aware of the difficulty experienced inerasing words or letters from a page of type-written matter, owing tothe great liability there is of erasing or blurring letters or wordscontiguous to those which it is desired to obliterate, thus spoiling theappearance of the sheet. Extreme care, therefore, is required in the operation of erasing, and a. consequent loss of time entailed upon theoperator.

It is the object of my invention to provide a device for use in theerasure of words or letters, which can be so adjusted as to shield allthe letters except those which it is desired to era c, so that allblurring will be avoided, and which can be placed in position for use sospeedily that a minimum amount .01 time will be lost.

by invention therefore consists, primarily, of a rectangular platehaving a longitudinal opening therein of any suitable dimensions, and aslide adjustable on said plate, so as to cover as much ot thelongitudinal slot as is desirable.

The invention con s' s s, secondly, of a rectan gular plate having alongitudinal opening therein, a sliding plate adapted to cover saidopening, said sliding plate having a tongue titted to the o jiening inthe main plate and adapted to act as a guide for the eraser.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 repre sents a perspective view of my invention, and Fig. 2 alongitudinal section.

\l'hile I have designed my invention particularly for use in connectionwith typewriters, nevertheless it will be readily understood that it canbe used in connection with the erasing of words or letters frommanuscript.

In the drawings, A is a rectangular plate stamped out of sheet metal,preferably nickelplated,ai'1d may be of any suitable length and width;but in practice I make it about one-half as long as the carriage of atypewriter, and in width about equal to three or four times the spaceordinarily left between the lines in type-written matter. These dimensions are, however, not material, but have been [found convenient.This plate is bent over at the sides, forming ways a, in which a plate,ll, hereinafter described, is adapted to slide. The plate A has acentral longitudinal opening, 11, formed in it extending nearly itswhole length, said opening being of such width that when the opening inthe plate A is positioned over the line of type-writing containing thecharacter to be erased the lines immediately above and below will beentirely shielded.

Fitted to slide in the ways a is a plate, B, made of any suitablematerial, and this plate 1- adjustable on the plate A in order to makethe length of the opening I) greater or less according to the size ofthe erasure to be made. This plate B is in-eferably made with a tongue,c, formed upon one end, this tongue being inclined slightly downward andof such width as to snugly tit the longitudinal opening Z) in the plateA, thus acting as a guide for the erasing-tool, and, as this tongue hasa knife-edge at its extremity, it will be seen that the erasing-tool inits movement will not be retarded by binding against the end of thetongue, for the knife-edge will offer no obstruction to its passage, butallow it to slide easily from the paper upon the incline.

I claim- 1. A shield for use in erasing words or letters, consisting ofa plate, A, having an opening therein for disclosing the character to beerased, and a sliding plate adjust-able on said plate A, adapted toclose the opening therein, substantially as described.

2. A shield for use in erasing words or letters, consisting of a plate,A, having the openin g therein for disclosing the character to beerased, and a sliding plate, adjustable on said plate A, adapted toclose the opening therein, having a tongue for guiding the eraser,substantially as described.

I 11 testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEE D. CRAIG.

Witnesses:

N. L. BERDAN, E. W. ROBERTS.

